Liquid dispenser



June 12, 1962 W. J. LUEDTKE ETAL LIQUID DISPENSER FiIedDec. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-'Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June 12, 1962 1 L UEDTKE ETAL 3,038,193

LIQUID DISPENSER 2 shets--sheex 2 Illlllk,

III III III Filed Dec. 28, 1959 NVENTOR.

Ri g ATTORNEY 3,038,193 LIQUID DISPENSER Warren I. Luedtke and Wiiiiam C. Harris, Racine, Wis., assignors to S. C. Johnson Si Son, Inc., Racine, Wis. Filed Dec. 28, 1959, Ser. No. $62,364 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-556) This invention relates to a liquid dispenser. More particularly, it relates to a device for dispensing liquids such as shoe polish, water, wax emulsions, and the like without the attending adverse effect which accompanies the use of existing dispensers.

A primary object of the invention is a liuid dispensing device in which liquids may be stored in a closed container for an extended period of time and thereafter dispensed in an even ow.

Another object of the invention is a fluid dispensing device in which fluids may be stored for long periods of time and shipped great distances without danger of clogging of the dispensing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is a valve assembly for dispensing fluids for a closed container in an even lflow and without danger of clogging the mechanism.

FIGURE I is a vertical cross section of the container and valve assembly of the present invention. FIGURE II is a Vertical cross section of a valve assembly almost identical to that which constitutes a sub-assembly of the dispenser disclosed in FIGURE I except that the valve is in open position. FIGURE III is a vertical cross section of a valve assembly similar to that of FIGURE II except -that there is circumscribed about the inner valve sleeve an expandable washer in expanded position. FIG- URE IV is similar to FIGURE III except that the valve assembly is in closed position and the expandable washer is compressed. FIGURE V is a vertical cross section of a valve assembly similar to that of FIGURE II except that the fluid inlet is of a different configuration. FIG- URE VI is a vertical cross section of the valve assembly similar to that of FIGURES II and V showing a still different fluid inlet configuration. FIGURE VII is similar to FIGURE II except that it shows protrusions extending from the outer surface of the inner valve sleeve engaging the inner surface of the outer valve sleeve.

In FIGURE I a bottle or other container 1 has neck portion 2 having external threads 3 and 4 which engage over cap 5 and inner cap 6 respectively. Over cap 5 engages the neck portion of bottle 1 in a uid tight relationship by the close fit established between protruding annular shoulder 7 and the horizontal portion 8 of the bottle neck portion 2 and by the external cylindrical surface of vertical'shoulder Si and the internal cylindrical surface of neck portion 2. Likewise, a iiuid tight relationship is established between over cap 5 and inner cap 6 by the bearing of protruding shoulder 10* upon the horizontal surface 11 of over cap 5. Inner cap 6 is equipped f with an inner valve sleeve 12 which is at least partially hollow throughout its length. At the outer extremity of the inner valve sleeve the hollow portion consists of a central opening I8 and fluid openings 13 positioned thereabout. The Huid openings are lformed by a plurality of guide members 22 extending from the wall of the inner valve sleeve to the central opening 18, the fluid openings 13 being established between said guide members. The inner valve sleeve 12 also has fluid passage 14 connecting fluid cavity 21 of container 1 with the hollow portion of the inner valve sleeve when the valve is in open position as shown in FIGURES II, III, V and VI. Circumscribing the inner valve sleeve 12 in a fluid tight relationship is an outer valve sleeve 15 which has a closed inner end 17. A dauber stem 16, shown in a plan view in all figures, is mounted in the inner end 17 of the outer valve sleeve 15 and extends through opening 18 past guide nym et ft2 Patented June I2, 1962 members 22 and fluid passages 13 of the inner valve sleeve 12. The stem is fastened to dauber 19 in a position so that the distance between the looped portion of the stem and the opening 18 is less than the distance by which the inner and outer valve sleeves are telescoped. This arrangement precludes the possibility of disassembling the valve members when the valve is opened by pushing the dauber and dauber stem toward the container. There is usually little advantage to be gained by closing the valve once it has been opened. In a modification of the valve which does not permit closure from the exterior of the container, the valve stem 16 is not securely fastened to the inner end 17 of the outer valve sleeve 15. The dauber consists of any suitable material such as cotlt0n, felt, wool, sponge rubber, synthetic foam and the ike.

The outer valve sleeve 15, as shown in the drawings, has internal protrusions 20 that provide a tighter fitting seal over a smaller area of the telescoped valve sleeves. That is, more pressure exists between the protrusions and the corresponding outer surface of the inner valve sleeve than between any other engaged portions of the inner and outer valve sleeves per unit area. Preferably, the inner and outer valve sleeves will be composed of plastic, the inner valve sleeve being softer and more resilient than the outer valve sleeve. This permits the protrusions on the inner Ivalve sleeve to become at least partially imbedded in the outer wall of the inner valve sleeve when the outer and inner valve sleeves are assembled in a close fitting telescoped relationship. Obviously, this arrangement could be reversed with the protrusions positioned on the inner surface of the outer valve sleeve, the inner Valve sleeve consisting of the softer plastic. Polystyrene and polyethylene are examples of plastics which may be used as the hard and soft plastics, polystyrene being the harder of the two. Any combination of moldable plastic or malleable metal may be used for the valve sleeves, however. A substantially better seal is achieved when the protrusions are present and the composition of the surface of the opposed sleeve is of a softer, more resilient material regardless of its chemical composition.

When the valve assembly is in closed relationship as it is in FIGURES I and IV, the fluid remains in the container I regardless of the containers position. When the container is inverted and the valve open as in FIGURE II, the liquid flows from its position 21 through the area enclosed by bottle neck portion 2 through groove-like iiuid inlet 14, past the intermediate length of dauber stern 16, and finally through opening 13 positioned around `dauber stem 16 onto the dauber 19. The same general fiow is established when the inner valve stem 12 is equipped with other types of openings such as the circular and slot-like fluid openings shown in FIGURES V and VI. Obviously, the opening may take many other forms. It may be rectangular, square, or in the form of a spiral extending up the outer surface of the internal valve sleeve for example. A plurality of openings may be employed.

In the dispensing of many types of fluids which contain solids in suspension which are readily precipitated, a tendency sometimes exists for precipitation to occur on sharp edges of the valve assembly. This diiiiculty may be accentuated when the fluid openings are extremely small. When this occasional difficulty occurs, it is overcome readily Iby the inclusion of a porous expandable washer such as that shown in 'FIGURES lIII and IV circu-mscribing `the inner valve sleeve I2. 'The washer fits between shoulder 26 of inner valve sleeve 12 and the outer valve sleeve I5. This expandable washer has a great number of pores and therefore retains a substantial amount of liquid for a prolonged period after wetting. This characteristic keeps from clogging both the pores of the washer itself and the adjoining fluid inlets such as those depicted by numerals 14, 24 and 25. The Washer is maintained in a compressed relationship when the valve is in closed position. When the valve is in open position, that is when the inner and outer valve sleeves are in a telescoped position so that all or a portion of the fluid inlet opening is exposed, the washer expands in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the valve sleeves and covers the exposed opening of the fluid inlet. The flow of liquid through the fluid inlet is not restricted, however, since the washer is porous when in expanded position and does not lbecome clogged. The expandable washer may consist of any of a wide number of materials such as cotton, wool, felt, rayon, rubber or the like. The only requirement is that it be porous to ithe liquid being dispensed and be capable of enough expansion to permit coverage of the iluid inlet opening when the valve i-s in open position.

There exists between the inner and outer valve sleeves a fluid tight relationship which exists until it is broken by pressing the dauber toward the internal portion of the bottle 1. This action moves the outer valve sleeve 15 from over a portion of the fluid inlets 14, 24 or 25. Thereafter, the liquid flows from the bottle as heretofore described and upon the dauber each time the bottle is inverted. There is no spring or no other means for autolmatically closing the valve once it is in open position. The dispenser is designed for the purpose of maintaining a fluid in the container in an air tight compartment during storage and shipment and thereafter dispensing the contents in an even llow with a single downward pressure on the dauber. Preferably, the dispenser will not be equipped with a spring or other automatic means for closing the valve each time pressure is removed from the dauber. The absence of such closing means permits the application of an even continuous film upon the surface being coated. If a closing means were present, two pressures would be required on the dauber while using the dispenser, one for opening the valve and maintaining it in open position and a second for spreading the desired film. The first would depend principally on the resistance ofthe closing member and the second upon the spreading characteristics of the fluid being dispensed and the surface being coated. The chance of these pressures lbeing identical would be very small. Further, the absence of an automatic valve closure means permits air to enter when the package is returned to its upright position after use. This entry of air assists in freeing the lluid inlet of the inner valve sleeve of fluid, thus reducing the possibility of clogging.

Preferably, the container 1 will be of the squeeze bottle type constructed from a flexible material such as spring metal, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, rubber or any of the other many compositions available for fabricating containers having llexible sides. The container may be squeezed to force the liquid through the neck and valve assembly onto the dauber. When pressure is removed from the sides of the container and it is returned to the upright position, air enters permitting the container to breathe and its sides to return to their normal configuration because the valve remains in open position. In use, an even flow of liquid onto the dauber is maintained by the application of the desired amount of pressure upon the `squeeze bottle.

It will be apparent to skilled persons that many modifications of the invention can be made by reversing the assembly of parts, changing their configuration, etc. Such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention and claims, Now having described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A fluid dispensing device capable of repeated use without clogging comprising in combination a fluid container, a valve assembly comprising a hollow inner valve sleeve -at least partially open throughout its length, said inner valve sleeve having a lluid inlet in the wall thereof and a circumferential shoulder extending outwardly therefrom at a point between the fluid opening and the outer extremity of said sleeve, an outer valve sleeve circumscribing said inner valve sleeve in fluid tight relationship and having a closed inner end, a porous expandable washer circumscribing said inner valve sleeve at a point between the circumferential shoulder of the inner valve sleeve and the outer valve sleeve, means for securing said hollow inner valve sleeve to said fluid container in a fluid tight relationship, a dauber stem extending from the closed end of said outer valve sleeve through the hollow portion of said inner valve sleeve, a fluid absorbing dauber secured to the outer end of said dauber stem outside said iluid container, said porous expandable washer expanding to cover the fluid inlet of said inner valve sleeve but not restricting the llow of liquid therethrough when said valve assembly is in open position.

2. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of lluid comprising a hollow inner valve sleeve at least partially open throughout its length, an outer valve sleeve circumscribing said inner valve sleeve in a fluid tight relationship and having a closed inner end, said inner valve sleeve having a lluid inlet in the wall thereof and a circumferential shoulder extending outwardly therefrom at a point intermediate the lluid opening and the outer extremity of said sleeve, a porous expandable washer circumscribing vsaid inner valve sleeve at a point between the circumferential shoulder and said outer valve sleeve, a stem extending from the closed end of said outer valve sleeve through the hollow portion of said inner valve sleeve, said porous expandable Washer expanding to cover the fluid inlet of siad inner valve sleeve, but not restricting the flow of liquid therethrough when said valve assembly is in open position.

3. A iluid dispensing device comprising in combination a lluid container having an opening for filling the container, a valve assembly for closing said opening cornprising a hollow inner valve sleeve at least partially open throughout its length and having a fluid inlet in the wall thereof, an outer valve sleeve circumscribing said inner valve sleeve in a fluid tight relationship and having a closed inner end, said outer valve sleeve having a circumferential protrusion about its inner surface for engaging the outer surface of the inner valve sleeve in a close fitting relationship, said outer valve sleeve including the circumferential protrusions being comprised of a composition which is harder than the inner valve sleeve, the hollow inner sleeve of said valve assembly being secured to said fluid container in a fluid tight relationship, a dauber stern extending from the closed end of said outer valve sleeve through the hollow portion of said inner valve sleeve, a fluid absorbing dauber secured to the outer end of said dauber stem outside said lluid container, said outer valve sleeve closing the iluid inlet of said inner valve sleeve when moved from one position to another by the external manipulation of said dauber stem.

4. A lluid dispensing device comprising in combination a fluid container having an opening for filling the container, a valve assembly for closing said opening comprising a hollow inner valve sleeve at least partially open throughout its length and having a lluid inlet in the wall thereof, an outer valve sleeve circumscribing said inner valve sleeve in a fluid tight relationship and having a closed inner end, said inner valve sleeve having a circumferential protrusion about its outer surface for engaging the inner surface of the outer valve sleeve in a close fitting fluid tight relationship, said inner valve sleeve including the circumferential protrusions being comprised of a composition which is harder lthan the outer valve sleeve, the hollow inner sleeve of said valve assembly being secured to said fluid container in a fluid tight relationship, a dauber stern extending from the closed end of said outer valve sleeve through the hollow portion of said inner valve sleeve, a fluid absorbing dauber secured to the outer end of said dauber stem outside said lluid container, said outer valve sleeve closing the fluid inlet of said inner valve sleeve when moved from one position to another by the external manipulation of said dauber stern.

5. A fluid dispensing device comprising in combination a lluid container having an opening for filling the container, a spring-free valve assembly for closing said opening comprising a hollow inner valve sleeve at least partially open throughout its length and having a fluid inlet in the wall thereof, an outer Valve sleeve circumscribing said inner valve sleeve in a fluid tight relationship and having a closed inner end, said outer valve sleeve having a circumferential protrusion about its inner surface for engaging the outer surface of the inner valve sleeve in a close fitting relationship, said outer valve sleeve including the circumferential protrusions being comprised of a composition which is harder than the inner valve sleeve, the hollow inner sleeve of said valve assembly being secured to said Huid container in a fluid tight relationship, a dauber stem extending from the closed end of said outer valve sleeve through the hollow portion of said inner valve sleeve, a fluid absorbing dauber secured to the outer end of said dauber stem outside said fluid container, said outer valve sleeve closing the fluid inlet of said inner valve sleeve when moved from one position to another by the external manipulation of said dauber stem.

6. A fluid dispensing device comprising in combination a fluid container having an opening for lling the container, a spring-free valve assembly for closing said opening comprising a hollow inner valve sleeve at least partially open throughout its length and having a fluid inlet in the wall thereof, an outer valve sleeve circumscribing said inner valve sleeve in a fluid tight relationship and having a closed inner end, said inner valve sleeve having a circumferential protrusion about its outer surface for engaging the inner surface of the outer valve sleeve in a close tting fluid tight relationship, said inner valve 6 sleeve including the circumferential protrusions being comprised of a composition which is harder than the outer valve sleeve, the hollow inner sleeve of said valve assembly being secured to said uid container in a fluid tight relationship, a dauber stem extending from the closed end of said outer valve sleeve through the hollow portion of said inner valve sleeve, a fluid absorbing dauber secured to the outer end of said dauber stem outside said fluid container, said outer valve sleeve closing the iluid inlet of said inner valve sleeve when moved from one position to another by the external manipulation of said dauber stem.

7. A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid comprising a hollow inner valve sleeve, an outer valve sleeve circumscribing said inner valve sleeve in a fluid tight sliding relationship and having a closed end, said inner valve sleeve having a fluid inlet in the wall thereof and a shoulder extending outwardly therefrom at a point intermediate the fluid opening and the extremity of said inner valve sleeve laying opposite the closed end of said outer valve sleeve, a porous expandable washer circumscribing said inner valve sleeve between the shoulder of said inner valve sleeve and said outer valve sleeve, said porous expandable washer expanding to cover the uid inlet of said inner valve sleeve, but not restricting the flow of liquid therethrough when said valve assembly is in open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 193,381 Newton July 24, 1877 2,547,881 Murray Apr. 3, 1951 2,670,102 Mangano Feb. 23, 1954 2,673,362 Robinson Mar. 30, 1954 2,771,221 Hammond et al Nov. 20, 1956 2,857,927 Pardee Oct. 28, 1958 2,913,749 Ayres Nov. 24, 1959 

